WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of its key features is the ability to send videos that the recipient can only view once before they disappear – also known as one time videos.
When a user sends a one time video on WhatsApp, they may wonder – where exactly is that video being stored? Is it saved on their phone? The recipient’s phone? WhatsApp’s servers? Understanding where these ephemeral videos are stored can help users better grasp how private and secure WhatsApp’s one time video feature really is.
In this article, we’ll explore where WhatsApp stores one time videos, looking at factors like:
- Where the video is stored before sending
- Where the video goes once it’s sent
- How long the video remains on WhatsApp’s servers
- Whether the video gets saved to the recipient’s device
By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of the journey a one time video takes on WhatsApp – from your camera roll to the recipient’s eyes only.
Where Are One Time Videos Stored Before Sending?
When you first record a one time video in WhatsApp, it gets saved locally to your device’s internal storage or SD card, just like any other video you shoot. Specifically, it will be stored in the device’s camera folder like the following:
- On Android: Internal Storage > DCIM > WhatsApp > Media
- On iPhone: Photos > WhatsApp
The video will remain in your camera roll until you send it via WhatsApp. This allows you to record multiple takes if needed and choose the best one to send. But the video is not limited to just your camera roll.
One Time Videos are Also Saved in WhatsApp’s Cache
In addition to your camera folder, one time videos are also temporarily cached in WhatsApp’s internal storage. This allows WhatsApp quick access to the video for faster sending and loading.
On Android devices, this cache will be located at:
- Internal Storage > Android > media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp Video
On iPhones, it will be in a cache folder within WhatsApp’s sandboxed storage that’s inaccessible to users. This copy in the cache remains until you send off the video or close the WhatsApp app.
What Happens When You Hit Send?
Once you actually hit send, here is what happens to your one time video:
- The video gets uploaded from your device to WhatsApp’s servers.
- It remains encrypted on WhatsApp’s servers while waiting to be delivered.
- The video is downloaded to the recipient’s device when they receive it.
- It plays automatically for the recipient (once on Android, repeatedly on iOS).
- Once played, it is deleted from the recipient’s device.
- It is also deleted from WhatsApp’s servers after delivery.
Breaking this down step-by-step:
1. Video Uploaded to WhatsApp’s Servers
As soon as you hit send, the video starts uploading from your phone to WhatsApp’s servers over an encrypted connection. Only the version from your camera roll gets uploaded, not the cached copy.
2. Encrypted Server Storage
The video is stored encrypted on WhatsApp’s servers located around the world until the recipient device fetches it. This encrypted storage protects the video from being accessed by anyone during transit, including WhatsApp itself.
3. Video Downloaded to Recipient’s Device
Once the recipient’s WhatsApp connects to the server, the video will be downloaded directly to their device in encrypted form. Only on downloading it can the recipient decrypt and view the video.
4. Auto Playback Once for Recipient
On the recipient’s device, the video file is temporarily cached just like on your end. It then plays automatically for the recipient:
- Android: Plays once and then becomes unavailable.
- iOS: Plays on loop until exited. User must tap Done to make it disappear.
5. Deleted from Recipient’s Device
As soon as auto playback ends, the video is deleted from the recipient’s photo gallery and cache. There is no way to retrieve the video or play it again after this point.
6. Deleted from WhatsApp’s Servers
Once WhatsApp detects the video has been viewed by the recipient, it will delete that video file from its servers as well. This completes the lifespan of your one time video.
Do Screen Recording Apps Change This?
You may wonder – what if the recipient records the one time video using their device’s screen recording feature or third party apps?
It’s true that the recipient could technically record your one time video this way while it’s playing. However, WhatsApp has measures in place to discourage and detect this:
- A notice displays telling the recipient that screen recording is blocked for one time videos.
- The video background becomes blurred if screen recording is initiated.
- WhatsApp receives feedback if screen recording apps were active.
While not impossible, WhatsApp aims to make it very difficult for recipients to screen record your private videos without your knowledge.
Can You Save One Time Videos Elsewhere?
Apart from screen recording, some WhatsApp users also wonder if they can save these disappearing videos off their phones – say, by transferring them to a computer or cloud storage.
The answer is no. Since one time videos disappear immediately after viewing, there is no way to export them from your phone like a normal video. The only place they momentarily exist is in WhatsApp’s encrypted cache on your device while playback is occurring. There are no files left to save afterwards.
Your best bet is using a separate camera app to record any important one time videos, before sending on WhatsApp. This ensures you have the original saved on your phone or cloud storage as needed.
Summary
Here is a quick summary of where WhatsApp one time videos are stored at each stage:
| Stage | Storage Location |
|---|---|
| Before Sending | Your phone’s camera roll and WhatsApp cache |
| During Transit | Encrypted WhatsApp servers |
| On Recipient’s Device | WhatsApp cache until auto deleted after viewing |
| After Viewing | Nowhere – deleted from all locations |
The key takeaways are:
- One time videos only exist temporarily in encrypted form during the sending process.
- They do not get permanently stored anywhere – neither your phone, recipient’s phone, nor WhatsApp’s servers.
- This ensures privacy and security, with the video disappearing forever after viewing.
So in summary, while WhatsApp stores your personal media temporarily to facilitate messaging, it does not retain one time videos after they are viewed. The auto deletion ensures your private videos don’t live on after serving their purpose.
Conclusion
We hope this gives you a better understanding of where ephemeral one time videos go when you hit send on WhatsApp. The short-lived encrypted existence keeps your private media secure while in transit and disposing it swiftly after viewing.
While no system is completely foolproof, WhatsApp’s one time video feature allows you to share temporary glimpses without the content living on permanently. So you can use it as intended, without your media ending up in unintended hands down the line.
Just remember to use a separate camera app if you want to record important memories to keep. One time videos are designed to be disposable – not archival. Keep that context in mind and the feature will serve you well!